Time switch mechanism



June 7, 1938. G STOKES 2,119,933

TIME SWITCH MECHANISM Filed April 3, 1936 I/V Vf/VTOR. 2/ GEORfiE570/(55.

75 54 A T TOR/V51 Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIMESWITGH MECHANISM Calif.

Application April 3, 1936, Serial No. 72,601

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a time controlled switch mechanism whereby aswitch is opened and closed at timed intervals, said intervals beingadjustable by the operator.

An object of my invention is to provide a time controlled switchmechanism which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture,and which will effectively make and break a contact.

Another object is to provide a novel time controlled switch mechanism,the actuating dial of which rotates once in twenty-four hours, and inrotating, will open and close an electrical circuit, the opening andclosing of the circuit being accomplished at a distance from the dial,thereby eliminating the possibility of an electrical short circuit orarc.

A further object is to provide a time switch mechanism of the characterstated in which the opening and closing of the contact is rapidlyaccomplished with a snap action thereby preventing the formation of anelectrical arc.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description, and theappended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a top plan view of my time switch mechanism.

Figure 2' is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the two control arms.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the trigger post.

Figure 5 is a plan view with the dial removed, showing the actuatingfingers in cocked position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but with the actuating arms removedand showing one finger released and the other cocked.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, with both fingers released.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of one of the actuating arms.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the mounting block in whichthe actuating fingers slide, the fingers being shown in elevation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I indicates achronometer of usual and well known construction, and which may beeither electrically or spring actuated. The chronometer I continuouslyrotates a shaft 2 in one direction. The chronometer drives the shaft 2thru suitable reduction gearing 3, the details of which form no part ofthis invention.

A disc 4 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 2 and the periphery of thisdisc is calibrated into hours or fractions thereof, as shown at 5. Apair of releasing arms 6, I are mounted on the shaft 2 and rotate withthis shaft. These two arms are adjustable relative to each other andabout the shaft 2. This adjustment is accomplished by loosening the nut8 which nut holds the disc 4 onto the shaft 2. When the nut istightened, the disc presses down against the arms, thus holding themagainst movement relative to each other. By this means, the arms can beadjusted to various positions about the disc 4, thereby permitting theswitch to be turned on and off at different times, as will besubsequently described.

A block 9 is fixedly attached to the plate I0, said block being arrangedunder the disc 4. A pair of plungers II, I2 are slidably mounted in theblock 9, and the inner ends of each of the arms are bent upwardly toform the pins I3, I4. Coil springs I5, I6 surround the plungers II, I2,respectively, and urge these arms outwardly for the purpose of actuatinga switch as these arms are released.

The switch consists of a stationary double contact IT, a spring contactarm I8 and a second spring contact arm I9. The arm I8 is normallypressed away from the contact I'I while the arm I9 is normally pressedagainst the contact II.

The plungers II, I2 are provided with tips of insulating material 20,2I, respectively. The insulated tips of these plungers press against thespring arms I 8, I9, respectively, for the purpose of opening andclosing the switch. A trigger shaft 22 extends into the block 9 and intoa notch 23 in the side of the plunger II. The shaft 22 is cut away onone side so that when the out side is rotated toward the plunger, theplunger will be free to be pressed outwardly under the urge of thespring I5. A similar trigger shaft 24 is provided for the plunger I2.Each of the shafts 22, 24 is provided with a pin 25, 26, respectively.Each of the shafts 22, 24 is provided with a coil spring 21 which tendsto rotate the shafts into a position to engage a plunger.

The release arm 6 is provided with a depending finger 28 which engagesthe finger 25 as the arm rotates past the shaft 22. Thereupon, theplunger I I is released and the switch assumes the position shown inFig. 6. Following this action, the arm 'I-provided with its dependingfinger 29 engages the finger 26, thus rotating the shaft 24 to releasethe plunger I2. Thereupon, the switch is opened, and assumes theposition shown in Fig. 7. On this same arm I, there is provided a camlug 30 with a cam surface 3|. The cam surface 3I engages the pins I3 andI4 in succession and pulls the plungers II, I2 inwardly against thetension of the springs l5, l6. Shafts 22 and 24 are constantly urgedinto locking position by the springs which surround these shafts.

The operation of my switch mechanism is as follows:

The parts are first in the position as shown in Fig. 5, i. e., theswitch is open, the plungers l I, I2 are drawn inwardly into cockedposition. The disc i--as it rotates-carries the arm 6 past the shaft 22whereupon the shaft is rotated by reason of the inter-engagement of thefingers 25, 28. The plunger H is thus released, is forced outwardly bythe spring l5, and the switch is closed, as shown in Fig. 6. At a laterinterval, the arm I is moved past the shaft 24, the fingers 26, 29engage, whereupon the plunger H is released. This p1unger-upon beingreleasedengages the spring arm [9, and the switch is opened, as shown inFig. 7.

It will be noted that both on opening and closing of the switch, coilsprings are utilized, thus creating a snap action, that is, a quick openand close of the switch. When the switch has been opened, each of theplungers ll, I2 is cocked by the cam 30 and during this cockingoperation, the switch always remains open, as shown in Fig. 5. Theprevious operation is then repeated. The disc 4 makes one completerotation each twentyfour hours.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A time switch mechanism comprising a chronometer, a shaft rotatableby the chronometer, a disc on the shaft, a pair of arms adjustablymounted on the shaft, a switch adjacent the disc, 2, pair of plungersextending to the switch, a spring on each of the plungers urging thesame into engagement with the switch, a trigger means engaging each ofthe plungers, said arms having fingers thereon engaging the triggermeans whereby the plungers are released to alternately open and closethe switch, and means on one of the arms engageable with the plungerswhereby the plungers are drawn inwardly and the trigger means setpreparatory to releasing the plungers.

2. A time switch mechanism comprising a chronometer, a shaft rotatableby the chronometer, a disc on the shaft, a pair of arms adjustablymounted on the shaft, a switch spaced from the disc, a pair of plungersengageable with the switch, a spring engaging each of the plungersurging same into engagement with the switch, a trigger engaging each ofthe plungers, a finger on each of the arms adapted to engage one of thetriggers whereby a plunger is released to alternately open and close theswitch, and means operable by the shaft to withdraw the plungers, andset the triggers.

3. A time switch mechanism comprising a chronometer, a shaft rotatableby the chronometer, a disc on the shaft, a pair of arms adjustablymounted on the shaft, a switch spaced from the disc, a pair of plungersengageable with the switch, a spring engaging each of the plungersurging same into engagement with the switch, a trigger engaging each ofthe plungers, a finger on each of the arms adapted to engage one of thetriggers whereby a plunger is released to alternately open and close theswitch, means to cock the plungers, said means including a cam on one ofthe arms, a pin on each of the plungers, said cam engaging the pins asthe shaft rotates thereby cocking the plungers.

GEORGE STOKES.

